Photo Credit: Racing Post
Racing Post’s betting editor and top tipster Paul Kealy gives us the inside track on who will win the main races at Cheltenham Festival 2015
RARELY can the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival have been so dominated by just one man, but that’s the case this year with Willie Mullins saddling four of the hottest favourites of the meeting.
Expect bookmakers to regale you with tales of a bloodbath should Douvan, Un De Sceaux, Faugheen and Annie Power give the most powerful trainer in Ireland, or Britain for that matter, a four-timer.
I’ll be taking on Douvan in the opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle as I don’t think he has achieved anywhere near as much as Mullins’ winners for the last two years (Champagne Fever and Vautour) going into the race yet he’s a much shorter price ante-post than they were on the day.
Jollyallan, who is going to love a strong pace and showed good battling qualities when second to the more experienced good handicap winner Garde La Victoire, looks an excellent each-way alternative.
You may not get three places for each-way betting in the Racing Post Arkle as Un De Sceaux looks likely to frighten off a lot of potential rivals and for once I couldn’t blame them. He was awesome last time out and holds a massive class edge over his rivals, as does Annie Power in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle, which she ought to win with ease.
Day two is all about one race, a fascinating Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase featuring a clash between the last two winners, Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy, of whom have something to prove after encountering different problems. Nicky Henderson said the old Sprinter was “nearly there” after a recent workout, in which case he could be a good thing, but he has to prove it on the racecourse. The old Sire De Grugy was definitely back at Chepstow when he slammed his field giving plenty of weight away, but was a race on heavy ground 17 days before the Champion a good idea? My money will be on Champagne Fever, who I think has been crying out for a drop back to 2m. He’ll be a three-time festival winner over that trip if he is successful.
Photo Credit: Racing Post
This year’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle may well take place without the first three of 2014, as winner More Of That is absent this time after bursting a blood vessel on the gallops, runner-up Annie Power looks set to convert the penalty kick in the mares’ race on Tuesday and At Fishers Cross has completely lost his form. Zarkandar, a well-beaten fourth 12 months ago, looks a much happier horse this season and might well improve enough. He is fancied more than Saphir De Rheu from the same stable as he might want soft ground. I don’t think Rock On Ruby will stay and the Irish form does not look strong enough.
If the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup were run at Kempton you could make a fair case for Silviniaco Conti being odds-on as the two-time King George winner stands head and shoulders above his rivals on pure form. It’s not, though, and in two previous Gold Cup runs at Cheltenham Conti fell in 2013 and, last year, he wandered around on the run-in and finished fourth having looked a sure-fire winner jumping the last. He apparently had ulcers last year and has looked a lot more straightforward in cheekpieces since, but his course form is enough to put off many. Second favourite Road To Riches is the coming force in Ireland and has impressed in slamming Rocky Creek (a very easy winner under top weight of a big handicap at Kempton recently) by 11 lengths at Down Royal and then winning the Lexus. He has the perfect profile for a Gold Cup winner, goes on any ground and is the obvious alternative. Trainer Noel Meade has never had a chase winner at the festival and what a way it would be to break his duck. Last year’s winner Lord Windermere hasn’t scored since, but he has arguably performed better in the run-up than he did 12 months ago and he clearly loves the unique test that a Gold Cup presents.
